Three Weeks, Two Marathons, One Chronic Illness

Time to Train

So, I’m cheating. I posted this as a blog post on CysticLife.org. It’s a post in an attempt to inspire the CF Community. I think it works here too…

One month to go. One month until I start training for my 4th marathon. Yes, marathon. 26.2 miles on 75% FEV1, osteopenic/osteoporatic bones, borderline diabetes, and more determination then 95% of the people on earth.

Oh, and did I mention my goals. They are both fairly simple:

Sub 4:00:00 Marathon

Raise $4000 for the CFF

Why am I posting this rambling blog as my first one? Well, I’m doing this partially for myself. Really, I’m doing most of it for you. All, the Men, Women, Boys, Girls, Moms, Dads and everyone else related to CF. It’s important to me to, in my own way, attempt to inspire all of you.

On March 30th, 2011 I’ll turn 40. Yes the big Four-Oh. An age, which according to the doctors, I should never have reached. In fact, I was only supposed to make it to 16….or less. I’m a double delta, born in a time when we ate sticks of butter to gain weight (rolled in sugar, of course), we had very few antibiotics (tetracycline anyone?), and my sister (a product of the 60’s) called it Sixty-Five Roaches.

Now at my old age, I’m here to prove a point. A point to everyone with CF, or any other chronic illness. Chronic doesn’t mean a death sentence. It doesn’t mean that you can’t accomplish your goals. That could be graduating from high school or college, getting married, having kids, becoming a pilot, running the Boston Marathon, or anything else you want to do.

I’m the baby of 13 kids. I’ve lost two siblings to CF, a father to Alzheimer’s, and a sister-in-law to cancer. I have two great kids and a beautiful wife. And I have the drive to keep myself alive and healthy. Yes, I have a mild case of CF. But is it mild because of genetics or is it mild because I am determined to keep myself healthy. Well, I don’t know. But I do know that I will meet my goal on May 1st 2011. In fact, I already have. I’ve made it longer than the docs ever thought I would.

So, here’s to the CF community. Here’s my attempt to make you all believe that there is hope. That life is wonderful and that you should do whatever you can to make the best of it. I’ll post more blogs as I move forward with my training. I hope the hard work inspires you all.

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Hi, I looked up marathon on Twitter and came across this blog. I live in Boston and plan to run in the marathon this year, I too have CF, I’m 27 yrs old. I have been training for 9 weeks now. Could you give me any information so I can get a number, I have had contact with Childrens Hospital Boston and it seems as though i may be able to run for their program, but I’d love to run in the name if CFF. Any info would be awesome, just in case Childrens doesn’t work out in the long run.

Your blog has inspired me even more and nothing will prevent me from running, I just need to be pointed in the right direction. Thanks if you can and thanks if you can’t either way your words will push me towards my goal.